InvestigateTV - THIS WEEK: Many people use online reviews to help with purchases big and small, but what if those reviews just weren’t true. Our national investigative team exposes “Five Star Fakes”. Next, we explain how scammers are using deed fraud to steal houses from unsuspecting homeowners. Plus, the team also shares tips on how to protect yourself from phishing attacks. WHERE TO WATCH ICYMI – Watch last week’s episode.
Five Star Fakes: Checking online reviews when shopping, researching vacations or even looking for a doctor has become an integral part of the modern consumer experience. But what if the review was written by someone rewarded for leaving their opinion of the product or service? What if the reviewer had never used the product and had been paid to fabricate their writeup? In “Five Star Fakes”, InvestigateTV found several posts on social media platforms where people are bartering - even buying and selling - online reviews, despite a federal law that prohibits this act. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa speaks with experts and government agencies about what they are doing to fight the surge in deceptive reviews, and she reached out to tech and social media giants to see if they are purging groups misleading customers with illegal fake reviews.
Home Deed Fraud: Deed fraud, title theft, house stealing, all terms for the same thing - criminals illegally transferring and recording real estate titles without the rightful owner’s knowledge. We uncover how con artists often scan obituaries, jumping on vulnerable homes ss families grieve.
Watching Your Wallet - Phishing Trends: One million attacks in just three months, that’s a record for the number of phishing attempts by cybercriminals, according to a new industry survey. In this Watching your Wallet, Consumer Investigator Caresse Jackman speaks with a victim who fell into a phishing trap and breaks down the most popular targets under attack.
Make Ends Meet - Credit Underserved: Getting ahead is part of the American dream and your credit report plays a part in that. Employers check it, potential landlords review it and it’s a near necessity for a loan. But according to TransUnion, more than 15% of U.S. adults are credit unserved or underserved. We share details on how you can strengthen your credit score.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.